By now, summer’s rhythm is in full swing—fireflies blinking across the evenings, gardens growing wilder by the day, and maybe (just maybe) a little more room to write. At the Kentucky State Poetry Society, we believe this season isn’t just for slowing down—it’s for showing up: to your craft, your community, and your own creative voice.
As we head into July, there are two exciting ways to do just that:
Join us for the first session in our special summer craft talk series, One of These Things Is/Isn’t True: Negation in Poetry, led by Kentucky poet Trish Jaggers.
Together, we’ll explore how absence, opposition, and ambiguity can deepen meaning and open new creative doors in our work. This isn’t just a workshop—it’s a poetic unraveling, an invitation to slip between the lines and find unexpected truths in what isn’t said.
Free for KSPS members. Space is limited—register here to save your spot!
Have a poem that’s been waiting for the right moment? This is it. Our annual adult poetry contest is open through July 31. Whether you’ve been writing daily for LexPoMo or you’re returning to the page after a break, we encourage you to share your work. All Kentucky-based writers (and KSPS members elsewhere!) are welcome to enter.
Prizes. Publication. A chance to see your work recognized.
Sometimes the hardest part is hitting submit—but we’re cheering you on.
Why Now?
Summer has a way of loosening something in us. Maybe it’s the heat, or the long light, or the space between seasons. But often, it’s this time of year that gives us permission to reflect and reach out.
So consider this your creative check-in.
Have you written something lately that surprised you?
Is there a line from another poet that’s been haunting you (in the best way)?
Are you ready to share a piece of yourself with a wider audience?
Whether you attend the July 15 reading, submit by July 31, or simply sit on your porch scribbling lines into the dusk, know this: you’re part of a living, breathing community of Kentucky poets—and your voice matters.
Tag us in your writing moments @kystatepoetry, and let’s keep this summer humming with poetry.
Kentucky State Poetry Society 